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Mother who lost son to violence speaks out

By Monica Hardin, Morning Anchor

Published On: Feb 15 2013 01:00:55 AM EST

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -

Crime does not discriminate based on age, race or class.

WLKY Street Voices is a violence prevention initiative. It not only shares the personal stories of people whose lives have been affected by violence, but is a resource to learn how you can make positive changes.

Now, a mother in the midst of tremendous loss is speaking out.

"I was a young teenage mom, married and I'm like, 'What can I do to better myself?' And I took a trade and it worked out for the best for me," said Marian Dean, whose son was killed.

Dean is a beautician, owns a hair salon and is the mother of the late Antonio Anderson.

"He stopped by just to say hi, to see his little brothers like he normally does on Sunday, and he said, 'Well mom, I'm going to a kickball game. I'll see you later. I love you.' I said, 'Be careful.' And I guess in about 30 or 40 minutes I got that terrible phone call," said Dean.

The call on Aug. 14, 2011, was about her son who had just left. He was shot while at Shawnee Park and died in surgery.

Antonio left behind a brokenhearted Dean, two brothers and eight children.

"When I hear what goes on in our streets and know it's someone else's child I'm lost for words," said Dean.

When words are lost, Dean turns to photo's of her son. She's committed to preserving his memory for his children.

Every day, his images are seen around her beauty shop that she's dedicated and named after his nickname -- Bobble-heads.

"Every day in life I pray. Some days is good, some days is bad, but I try to focus and be active in our community," said Dean.

It's an active community presence she hopes others will adopt.

"You may not get them all but maybe one or two. I'm at ease when I grab ahold to one, just at least one. If I can get their attention and show them something different other than the violence in our community, then it helps me a lot," said Dean.

It helps others a lot, too.

Dean is ever-present during court proceedings for her son's murder suspects.

The mother of one of Antonio's eight children is a stylist and works along side his mother at the salon.

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